Home > Resources Opportunities Community in Nature Prize Challenge for Afterschool Programs October 9, 2025 Enter for a chance to win up to $3,500 for your program! Submissions due November 25, 2025. Do the young people in your afterschool program care about the environment? STEM Next’s Community in Nature prize challenge gives them the chance to design a project that makes a real difference in their community and compete for prize funding to support your program. Program leaders who enter the challenge will help guide and support a team of youth, providing structure, resources, and mentorship as they take the lead in designing their project plan. The Prize Four first prize winners will each receive $3,500 to support their afterschool program’s STEM programming. Six second prize winners will each receive $1,500. Winners will be featured in STEM Next communications and may be invited to participate in future opportunities. How to Enter the Challenge Form a team. Your project team will consist of youth participants (any grade levels) in your afterschool program and program educators. Register your program. Let us know you plan to participate by completing the interest form below. This isn’t your final submission; it helps us keep in touch, share resources, and send you reminders. Choose a community focus. Help your youth team identify a place where people and nature intersect. It could be a challenge (pollution, limited green space) or an opportunity (a new garden, energy-saving idea). Develop your project plan. With youth leading and educators guiding: Explain the issue or opportunity: What’s happening here? Identify the causes Design an action plan: How can your team make a positive change? Connect project activities to careers. Your project submission should show how youth will explore STEM career pathways through the skills and tasks involved (e.g., problem-solving, teamwork, research, design), guided by STEM Next’s Career-Connected Learning (CCL) Framework. Download your copy here or fill out the interest form and we’ll make sure to send you a copy with the confirmation email. Compile evidence of youth engagement in the project. If your project is already underway, take photos/videos or create other evidence that demonstrates youth participation and impact. If your project is still a concept, share planning materials — such as slides, sketches, or youth-written reflections — that illustrate how youth shaped the idea. (Simple, authentic documentation like smartphone video or scanned drawings is fine.) Submit your entry by Nov. 25, 2025. Complete the online form that you will receive via email after submitting your interest form with evidence of youth engagement. Review official challenge rules here. Judging Criteria All eligible submissions will be evaluated by a panel of judges in afterschool learning, nature and the environment, and youth development. Projects will be scored on the following criteria, with a highest possible score of 100 points. Question: Clear Environmental or Nature-Based Focus — 30 Points The project addresses a specific challenge in nature (e.g., pollution, flooding, loss of green space) or improves the natural environment in the community (e.g., starting a garden, restoring a habitat, saving energy). It should clearly show how youth are engaging with nature in hands-on, meaningful ways. Question: Incorporation of STEM Next’s Career-Connected Learning (CCL) Framework — 20 Points The project links youth activities to STEM career pathways, showing how what they are doing connects to awareness, exploration, or preparation for real jobs. Download the Framework here. Question: Youth and Educator Engagement — 20 Points Youth are leading the work, with educators providing structure and support. The project demonstrates strong collaboration between young people and program leaders. Question: Evidence of Youth Participation and Impact — 20 Points The submission includes authentic documentation (photos, videos, artifacts, reflections) that demonstrates youth involvement. If you elect to share photos or videos of youth, please note that you agree that all necessary media releases and permissions have been obtained from participants’ parents or guardians, and you grant permission for STEM Next and its partners to use these materials for promotional, educational, and reporting purposes, in accordance with the Challenge Rules. Question: Creativity and Storytelling — 10 Points The project is presented in a clear, engaging way that highlights youth voice and originality. Frequently Asked Questions Have other questions? Please email info@stemnext.org. Question: Can a multi-site organization submit multiple entries? Yes, if each entry is tied to a unique site and project. Question: Do all youth need to participate in all three CCL stages? No, but your project must demonstrate incorporation of STEM Next’s Career-Connected Learning (CCL) Framework.R Question: Are there any restrictions on how the prize funds can be used? Yes, awards cannot be used for lobbying, advocacy, or policy work. Question: What if my program already teaches environmental topics? Great, submit your project plan! Just be sure it meets the challenge requirements and aligns with STEM Next’s Career-Connected Learning (CCL) Framework. Question: Can we include youth from multiple age groups (e.g., elementary and high school)? Yes, projects may include youth across grade levels. Question: Can we submit more than one project example (e.g., a video and a presentation)? Yes, you may submit multiple types of evidence as long as they clearly show project outcomes. Question: Do we need professional-quality media for our project example? No, simple, authentic documentation (e.g., smartphone video, screenshots, slides) is encouraged. We care more about your impact than polish. Question: Why should I participate? This challenge supports youth engagement in meaningful nature-based learning while helping them build durable skills and career awareness. Inspire and fund youth-led action on environmental challenges. Promote durable skills through hands-on learning. Connect environmental action to STEM careers using STEM Next’s Career-Connected Learning (CCL) Framework. Amplify youth voice by elevating their perspectives and storytelling. Showcase how youth contribute to STEM solutions in their communities. Learn more here. This Challenge is made possible with leadership support from the Volgenau Foundation, whose investment is helping bring the power of STEM and environmental learning to more youth nationwide. Together with our many partners, we’re building momentum for a future where every young person can make a difference in their community. Find out how to join us here.
